Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-22
THE GERMAN ARMY.
THE cROUcHING TIGER READY ON
THE FRENCH FRONTIER LINE.

Night - II War wers Actually De
clared-Noblemen - Privates-Extra.
ordinary system.
Once inside the city Of Metz you find
discipline, hard work and the results of a
perfect military system. Fully half the
people you see on the streets are soldiers.
In the city Of Metz to-day there are 20, 600
men. Along the frontier, in positions
where they can be concentrated upon the
| border within twenty-four hours, there
are over 10000 men. In time of peace
the confinement Of SO large a number Of
men as are at Metz within such circum-
scribed quarters would simply result in
license, idleness and dissipation. But
there is nothing of the sort To be seen at
Metz The men are too constantly occu-
pied. The private soldiers are turned ont
at O'Clock in the morning II is drill,
dril from morning I'LL right. The rncn
are marched and countermarched. They
are exercised in every form Of evolution
which could be employed in actual war.
The officers are constantly securing the
country hunting up new difficulties TO
teach their men to overcome 10y prelimi-
nary drill. Such discipline. such subor-
dination, / do not think WAS ever sur
passed in any army. The officers wear
their uniforms constantly. Ii is a breach
Of discipline, and of the most serious char
acter, for them to appear in public in
civilian dress These officers have no time
for social hospi,alities. They never make
calls or accept invitations, except among
themselves. There is very little entertain
ing even among the officers on the border.
They are too occupied with their military
duties, in the perfecting Of this tremeu-
dOus military machine which each day
grows more and more formidable.
The perfection of the discipline of the
German army can only he understood by
witnessing its actual operation. To begin
with, the private soldiers are thoroughly
trained physically, as well rs in the men
tai details Of the military profession. They
are all accomplished gymnaSts. Although
the men in many of the regiments are Il
medium size they look strong. hardy ami
resolute. The German army is perfectly
democratic in the placing Of its men. The
sons Of the best families. who wish merely
to serve their three years term, have TO
begin in the ranks as common soldiers.
Those who wish to adopt the army as a
profession are placed in special schools
and according TO the examinations they
are placed in correspondingly better posi-
ton than those VINO are merely serving
their three years term. But when once
q man enters the army his private social
position is absolutely ignored. / hei rd
when l was in Metz of a son of a most
family being called upon 20
do his three years service. His head
gardener, who was called out at the same
time and who had previously served, WAS
given his old position as sergeant. The
young nobleman was placed in the ranks
n q private and under the command II
his servant, the gardener. The very first
day Of his service the privates Of his COM
pany were put to wheeling dirt for some
The sergeant could not
bear to see his masters son engaged in
this menial work and took Off his coat ard
did his share for him, but this simply re-
suited in the punishment Of the sergeant
for . breach of discipline.
The respect which a subordinate must
pay to his superior extends throughout
every hour and minute of the day. Wher-
ever the subordinate meets his superior in
rank he must extend TO him the same off
cial recognition of this superiority that
he would exhibit upon the actual parade
ground. The first night Of my arrival in
Metz / was dining at the table d'houe,
when q heavy, thick set German officer
entered the room. A slight, aristocrat!c
looking German officer, also in uniform,
was leisurely eating his dinner and talk |
ing with a friend when this officer entered |
the room. The moment the latter entered
the young officer stood up from the table
and saluted. He stood with his hand ut
the side Of his head in the attitude IL
salute until the advancing officer returned
the salute and told him politely TO sit |
down. In this particular case l after /
wards learned that the officer superior in
rank was former tradesman in the town
where the younger officer. the only son Of
, noble family, was one OF its So
.ial leaders. The two men in civil life |
would not know each other socially. But in
he army the tradesman's position COM
the absolute respect and obedience
If the nobleman- l merely give this IN
stance as an illustration of the absolute
perfection of the military subordination in
he German army. l noticed this cJn-
stantly as the officers came into the dining
room. Every officer who came in saluted
hose present, and those saluted either
arose or bowed formally, according to
their relative ranks. The working of this
discipline. which was shown in a hotel !
lining room, was OF course common at all
places Of public or private meeting. When
The officers pass each other upon the
streets, no matter if it is twenty times a
lay, the same ceremony, only in a more
curt fashion, is gone through with. The
for any breach of discipline is
swift and severe. Yet il spite of the rigor
Of the discipline and the tremendous work
involved, all OF the officers and the men
look comfortable and contented.
But in nothing is the perfection of prep
aration shown more than in the signals at
night and in the sudden arming and turn
ing out of the entire force along the frcn-
tier upon the shortest possible notice.
The German soldier, when he rctires at
night, never knows whether he will lie
called out within the next ten minutes or
at any time of night. At / O'Clock the
signal will be given and then an order Is
called out for the men, and instantly the
entire garrison at Metz will be placed in
line. Men will be sent out at double
quick up and down the streets, cavaliy
will go gathering out into the darkness,
the artillerymen will be whipped out at
their posts with the same swiftness and
rush as if the enemy were actually at
their gates. And then there will follow
shower of rockets. These lead to hillside
fires, one hillside lights up another, and SO
the blaze of light runs along down the
long line of the frontier, calling out by its
signals the men az distant posts. Moth
ing that could happen now in the way Of
upon the part Of France
could find the Germans unprcpared. They
are united. harmo!fIous and have perfect
military arm.-T c. Crawford's Letter in
New York World.
Grass In the Yukon Country.
Contrary 10 the general supposition,
there are no areas Of frozen swamps TO lie
4 Il LII